Hotel Bellevue

With only the lobby visible from the tinted glass entrance, Hotel Bellevue was unassuming with a quiet confidence of what they have to offer. It was not until we made our way to our suite and out onto our balcony that we realised that the hotel had been carved into Dubrovnik’s rough cliffs overlooking the Miramare Bay. The uninterrupted view of the turquoise blue sea stretching out before our eyes was simply breathtaking.

As we watched a few local boys cliff diving off into the bay, Ron and I looked at each other and smiled. This was going to be a perfect few days away from home.

It took us no time to adjust to the Mediterranean lifestyle at the Hotel Bellevue. Our mornings were slow as we took our time waking up to the sound of the sea, followed by breakfast at the cliff top restaurant with spectacular Adriatic views. Afternoons were spent interchanging between the private pebble beach below the hotel and the indoor pool and jacuzzi, as I concentrated all my efforts on getting a bronzed tan. Once the sun had dropped slightly, we would scooter into Old Town to walk the city walls and visit familiar sites from the Game of Thrones. When we were hungry, we dined alfresco at a seaside restaurant as the sun slowly set beyond the horizon. We ended our days lounging by a cliff side bar lit only by candlelight as we gazed at the deep blue sea ahead.

Days were carefree at the Hotel Bellevue and our life back in London felt so far away.

Decorated in neutral hues with contemporary furnishing, our suite was generously designed with a lounge area and separate bedroom connected by an ocean view balcony stretching the length of the suite. It was quite evident that Hotel Bellevue had put a lot of thought in making the rooms a private sanctuary for us and there was nothing more romantic than being able to watch the sunset and listen to the sound of the waves as we lay on our bed.

The little finishing touches such as the L’Occitane toiletries in the bathroom, the late afternoon Croatian snacks which were always laid out in our room and the personal welcome note from the hotel’s manager, made our time at the Hotel Bellevue truly magical.

Tips for the Wanderluster

Hotel Bellevue is a 10-15 minutes walk away from the famous city walls of Old Town. The walk there is magnificent, with footpaths lining the cliff side route with panoramic views of the Adriatic sea – a definite photo call spot with not a single tourist in sight. As the route is on a slight uphill angle on the way back, although it is an easy journey, perhaps renting a scooter (our mode of transport for our stay) or taking a taxi back to the hotel is recommended especially on a hot summer’s day. Likewise, it’s a great way to work off some of the yummy seafood and gelato consumed in Old Town, followed by a refreshing dip in the sea or the spa afterwards.

For anyone looking to rest their skin after a day tanning on the beach, I recommend relaxing on one of the sun loungers by the spa’s indoor swimming pool. With floor to ceiling glass windows overlooking the sea, there is an abundance of natural light there which provides a perfect sanctuary for an afternoon nap. And the spa offers a great selection of massages and treatments which are all tailored to your requirements. I also recommend checking out the back end of the spa (which is not so visible from the spa entrance) as it includes a steam room, sauna room and holistic shower facilities.